Easy open container



March 22, 1927 v GUNTER EASY OPEN CONTAINER Original Filed March 31,1925 2 Shets-Sheet 1 gnucnkw,

March 2291927.

J. E. GUNTER EASY OPEN CONTAINER Original Filed March 31, 1925 2sheetsheet Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

NEED YATES AFT i JAMES E. GUNTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AESIG'NOR TOTHE JAMES E. GUNTER CORPORATION, A. CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

EASY OPEN CONTAINER.

Application filed March 31, 1925, Serial No. 19,637. Renewed August 3,1926.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in closures forcontainers, and more particularly, to one in which the closure retainingmeans may be easily removed and that without destroying the furtherusefulness of the container.

Rubber and fibre gaskets have been used to retain the closure or cap oncontainers, but it has been found dili icult to remove them, especiallyafter the rubber has deteriorated. It has also been suggested that rigidretaining rings might be used, but thus far it has been necessary to useaseparate tool to remove the ring, or if the tool has been attached tothe container, it has been in the way of the seaming rolls used inclosing the containers, thus not insuring a tight seal between thecontainer and cap.

The objects of my" invention are to do away with these disadvantages,and to make a closure retaining means that will be economical to makeand to use, positive and lasting in its retaining qualities. and yetwhich may be very easily removed.

These and other objects and advantages will be brought out more fullyhereafter.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front view of the top of a container(partially broken away) showing my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the retaining ring.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front View of part of the retaining ring on acontainer, with the bead shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the retaining "ring on a containershowing how the c011- tainer closure is rolled around it, with a frontview of the chuck and seaming roll partially broken away.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 in which the retaining ring has asemi-cylindrical shape.

Fig. 6 shows the retaining ring applied to a container having nearlystraight edges.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but looking from the other side, andin which the retaining ring has been flattened.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 in which a square retaining ring isused.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 in which a bead has been rolled ontothe edge of the container.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The container 1 is preferably made of metal, although the inventionmaybe applied to another kind of a container, as a glass, for example,as shown in Fig. 6. The container may also be of any desired shape. Thecover 2 extends beyond the side of the container, so that it may be bentover and rolled around the retaining ring 3. The container preferablyhas an outwardly flanged rim 8 which gives the retaining ring a goodgrip on the container. If the contents of the container are to beprocessed, or subjected to heat, it may be desirable to roll a bead onthe container, as at 9, to be more certain that the cap will not blowoff.

The retaining ring may be made of any material which will hold its formagainst the stresses which are exerted on it and have suiiicient tensilestrength to be pulled out, and it has a handle l projecting from itspath shown here to be offset from the ring, though obviously the handlemay be bent straight down, or it may be bent back in the direction ofthe ring. The important point is, that it be bent out of the line of thering a Sll'ifiOlBllt distance to clear the seaming roll and. also toenable an operator to grasp it firmly. At the point where the handlebecomes the ring, its juncture with the ring, it is flattened, orthinned, bumped or rolled to make it thinner than the ring, as shown at5. This portion of the handle preferably retains the samecross-sectional area as the ring and handle, so that there will be nounnecessary weakening, though only tensile strength suilicient to removethe ring is required.

In applying the cap, the ring placed around the container, with thehandle projecting away from the container edge, the cap placed on. and achuck 6 may be placed in the cap, while the seaming roll 7 bends theedge of the cap around the ring, pressing it firmly against thecontainer and its flanged rim. The seaming roll bends the edge 10 underfar enough so that points of pressure in the ring are displaced morethan 180 degrees, and the farther around the edge 10 is bent, the firmerthe grip of the cap on the ring and consequently, of the cap on thecontainer. The thinned part 5 may be as thin as desired consistent withstrength and economical operation. It is the thin portion 5 whichpermits the edge 11 of the seaming roll to unobstructedly pass aroundthe cap and, consequently, which permits the cap to firmly hold the ringat the place where the handle projects.

When it is desired to remove the cap, all that is necessary is to drawdownwardly on the handle; this will pull the ring down, and the ringwill straighten out the head on the cap sutliciently for the cap toclear the edge 8 ot the container, and then the cap may be easilyremoved by hand. No extra tool is required which often slips and digsinto ones hand, or the table; no sudden jar takes place to spill thecontents, When it 1 B on a glass jar, the jar is not broken by trying toknock the cap off.

This cap may be applied to the container at the can factory and then theother end attached with a sea ner in the usual way by the packer afterthe contents are put into it.

The cap may be of the friction type, as shown in Figs, 1, 3, 4, 5, T, 8and 9, so that it can be used again, but utter the container has oncebeen opened by removing the ring, it cannot again be closed withoutdetection, is the case with the usual friction top can. The use oi thefriction cap also partially relieves the container body of pressurewhich tends to crush its walls, and a better seal is obtained.

The container can be used for any article and can be shipped and knockedaround without any danger of the cap jumping out or of loss of contents.

I claim:

1. In combination, a container, a cap thereon, a rigid retaining ringwith a projecting handle, said retaining ring being between and bearingupon said container and cap at points displaced crossesectionally morethan 180 degrees and firmly retaining the latter in place, saidprojecting handle having a thickness between the container and cap atthe point where it projects from said container and cap less than thatof the retaining ring between its opposite bearing surfaces between thecontainer and cap, whereby said ring is unobstructed ly held in betweensaid container and cap.

In combination, a container, a cap thereon, a rigid retaining ring witha projecting handle, said ring surrounding the mouth or opening of saidcontainer and the edge of said cap forming a bead partially surroundingsaid ring laterally and forcing the same into close and retainingcontact with said container, said projecting handle having a thicknessbetween the container and. cap at the point where it projects from saidcontainer and cap less than that of the retaining ring between itsopposite bearing surfaces between the container and cap, whereby thecurvature of the extreme lip of said head is not obstructed by saidhandle.

3. The method of assembling a container with a cap and a rigid retainingring having a projecting handle, said handle being thinneithan said ringat its juncture therewith, which consists in placing the ring around theainer W h th hand P oj n a ay f m he containe g and bending androllingthe edge of the cap around said ring so that said cap firmly holds saidring against said container, the thinned portion of said handlepermitting the bending and rolling tool to pass unobstructedly aroundsaid ring. i

4. The method of assembling a container having an outwardly flanged edgewith a cap and a rigid retaining ring having a projecting handleintegral therewith, said handle being thinner than said ring at itsjuncture therewith, which consists inplaciug the ring around thecontainer and under said outward-1y flanged edge with the handleprojecting away from the container edge, and bending and rolling theedge of the cap around said ring so that said cap firmly holds said ringagainst said container and its outwardly flanged edge, the thinnedportion of said handle permitting the bending and rolling tool to passunobstructedly around said ring.

5. In combination, a container, a cap thereon, a rigid retaining ringwith a projecting handle, said ring surrounding the mouth or opening ofsaid container, and the edge of the cap forming a head, said headextending below a horizontal line lying in and passing through thecenter of a cross section of the ring band and surrounding said ring tothe extent that the angle toward said center made by the extreme lip ofthe cap which beers on the ring with the said horizontal line is lessthan ninety degrees, said projecting handle having a thickness betweenthe container and cap at the point where it projects from said containerand cap less than that of the retaining ring between its bearingsurfaces between the container and cap, whereby the curvature of theextreme lip of said head is not obstructed by said handle.

6. The method of assembling a container with a cap and a rigid retainingring having a projecting handle, said handle being thinner than saidring at its juncture therewith, which consists in placing the ringaround the container with the handle pro.- jecting away from thecontainer edge, and bending and rolling the edge of the cap around saidring so that it extends below a horizontal "line 1 ing in and passingthrough the center 0 a cross section of the ring band and the angletoward said center that the extreme lip of the cap which bears on thering makes with said horizontal line is less than ninety degrees, thebending and rolling tool passlng around said ring and unohstructedl'yover the thinned portion of said handle.

7. The method of assemblinga container, cap and rigid retaining ringhaving a projecting handle, which consists in placing the retaining ringaround the container mouth or opening with the handle projecting awayfrom the container mouth or opening, the wall of said container mouth oropening not being indented adjacent said projecting handle, placing thecap on the container, bending an outer portion of the cap longitudinallycontinuously around and inwardly below an outer periphery of said ring,the internal surface of said inwardly bent portion not being bulgedoutwardly where said handle projects.

8. In combination, a container the outer wall of the mouth or opening ofwhich presents a smooth continuous surface, a cap thereon, a rigidretaining ring having a projecting handle, said ring surrounding saidouter wall of the mouth or opening of the container, and the edge of thecap forming a continuous bead partially surrounding said ring laterallyand forcing the same into close and retaining contact with saidcontainer, the internal surface of said bead not being bulged outwardlywhere said handle projects.

9. The method of assembling a container the outer wall of the mouth oropening of which presents a smooth, continuous surface with a cap andretaining ring having an integral projecting handle, which consists inplacing the retaining ring around said outer wall of the mouth oropening of the container with the handle projecting away from thecontainer edge, placing the cap on the container, and applying radialpressure to the periphery of the cap to form a continuous bead thereon,which partially encloses said retaining ring and presses the same firmlyagainst said contaner, the in ternal surface of said bead not beingbulged outwardly where said handle projects.

10. In combination, a container the outer wall of the mouth or openingof which presents a smooth continuous surface, a. cap thereon, a rigidretaining ring having a. projecting handle, said ring surrounding saidouter wall of the mouth or opening of the container, with the handleprojecting away from said mouth or opening, and the edge of the capforming a continuous bead enclosing and surrounding said ring to theextent that the inner diameter of the extreme lip of the cap bearing onthe ring is greater than the outer diameter of the container adjacentsaid ring and less than the outer diameter of the ring, the internalsurface of said bead not .being bulged outwardly where said handleprojects.

11. In combination, a container the outer wall of the mouth or openingof which presents a smooth continuous surface, a cap thereon, aretaining ring, said ring surrounding said outer wall of the mouth oropening of the container, the edge of the cap forming a continuous beadenclosing and surrounding said ring to the extent that the innerdiameter of the extreme lip of the cap bearing on the ring is greaterthan the outer diameter of the container adjacent said ring and lessthan the outer diameter of the ring, and said ring having one endprojecting from said bead to form a handle by which to remove said ring,the internal surface of said bead not being bulged outwardly where saidhandle projects.

12. A rigid retaining ring for holding a cap on a container, said ringbeing adapted to be placed between the walls of the container and theedge of the cap, and by its resistance to compression and shear, to holdthe cap on the container, said ring having a handle projecting from itspath and said handle being thinner than said ring at its juncturetherewith.

13. A rigid retaining ring for holding a cap on a container, said ringbeing adapted to be placed between the walls of the container and theedge of the cap, and by its resistance to compression and shear, to holdthe cap on the container, said ring having a handle projecting from itspath and said handle being thinner at its juncture with the ring thanthe ring is thin between its resisting surfaces between the containerwalls and cap edge.

14. In combination, an open end container portion, a cap thereon, saidcontainer portion and cap being provided with adjacent surfaces forminga space having a contracted exit, a rigid member disposed in said spaceof greater width facing said contracted exit than the width of thecontracted exit, a projecting handle on said member of a thicknessbetween said adjacent surfaces not greater than the width of thecontracted exit, said member being adapted to be re moved through saidcontracted exit, and during removal, tending to pry apart said adjacentsurfaces.

A container seam comprising a com tainer wall, a rigid retaining ringhaving a projecting handle and a removable and replaceable cap;characterized by the cap having an outwardly facing wall parallel to andengaging an inner substantially vertical wall of the container, the capalso extending laterally beyond the wall of the container and having acontinuous downturned wall contracted inwardly below an outer peripheryof the retaining ring and firmly holding it against the outer wall ofthe container, the internal surface of said down-turnedinwardly-contracted wall not being bulged outwardly where said handleprojects.

16. A container seam comprising a flared container wall, a rigidretaining ring having a projecting handle and a removable andreplaceable cap; characterized by the cap having an inner outwardlyfacing Wall parallel to and engaging an inner wall of the container, thecap also extending late-rally beyond the Wall of the container andhaving a continuous down-turned Wall contracted inwardly below an outerperiphery of the retaining ring and firmly holding it against the outerflared wall of the container, the internal surface of said down-turnedinwardly contracted Wall not being bulged outwardly where said handleprojects.

l7. The combination with a container of a cap having an inner outwardlyfacing Wall parallel-to and engaging an inner wall of the container, thecap also having an outer depending Wall forming with the outer wall ofthe container a space, a retaining ring around the container in said s)ace, said ring having integral therewith a handle projecting from saidspace, the retaining ring being engaged and held in place by the outercap wall and in turn holding the cap upon the container, the: internalsurface of said outer cap Wall not being bulged outwardly Where saidhandle projects.

18. The combination with a container 01 a cap having an inner outwardlyfacing Wall parallel to and engaging an inner wall of the container atits mouth, the cap also having an outer depending wall forming with theouter Wall of the container a space, a retaining ring around thecontainer in said 7 space, said ring having integral therewith a handleprojecting from said space the lower edge of said outer depending wallbeing bent inwardly below and against said re taining ring, the internalsurface of said outer depending inwardly bent wall not be ing bulgedoutwardly where said handle projects.

19, The combination with a container of a cap having an inner outwardlyfacing wall parallel to and engaging an inner wan of the container atits mouth, the'cap also having an outer depending wall forming with theouter Wall of the container a space, a retaining ring around thecontainer in said space, said ring having integral therewith a handleprojecting from said space, said retaining ring pressing outwardlyagainst said outer depending wall placing it under tensjion and holdingthe cap upon the container, the internal surface of said outer dependingwall not being bulged outwardly where said handle projects.

20. A rigid annular retaining ring for holding a cap on a containerhaving a bandle projecting from the plane of the ring, the difierencebetween the internal and external radii of said ring being greater thanthe difference between the length of lines drawn from the center of saidring to the inner and outer surfaces of said handle Where it projectsfrom the plane of said ring, said ring being adapted to be placedbetween the wall of a container and the edge of a cap ofa container andto hold the cap on the container.

Lures E. GUNTER.

